Returning to Cyrus Restaurant in Geyserville feels like reuniting with an old friend—a friend who always has something new and exciting to share. Stepping into this culinary haven once again, I'm greeted by the familiar elegant ambiance that promises an evening of indulgence and discovery. It's a place where every visit feels like a special occasion, and this time is no different.
Our culinary adventure began in the first room, the Bubble Lounge. We were welcomed with a selection of cocktails alongside a playful display – a long plate of miniature canapés, each a delightful exploration of one of the five fundamental tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. This felt like a lighthearted promise from the chefs, a hint that they would orchestrate a harmonious dance of flavors throughout the entire meal.
Canapés: (left to right)
Sweet: Garlic Chive Madeleine | Sour: Green Strawberry, Yogurt, Basil | Salty: Gougère with Comte Fondue | Bitter: Charred Spring Onion "Cannoli" | Umami: Bamboo Rice Ship, Sesame Yolk Jam, Seaweed Chocolate
Kitchen Table
The next chapter of our culinary adventure unfolded – the kitchen table. Here, Chef Keane himself takes center stage, presenting a seven-course tasting menu at an angular, U-shaped counter. This intimate setting creates an almost cinematic experience, fostering a sense of connection with the culinary maestro as he unveils each course.
As I settle into my seat, I can't help but marvel at the menu, which seems to have undergone a transformation since my last visit. Chef Keane presents some of his most celebrated creations, including his signature billi bi, a French mussel soup infused with the essence of fennel. While some old favorites remain, there are also intriguing new additions that pique my curiosity. It's a testament to Cyrus's commitment to innovation and creativity, always striving to push the boundaries of culinary excellence.
Kitchen Table at Cyrus
White Asparagus, Ponzu, Candied Ginger
Blue Fin Tuna, Plum, Sea Lettuce-Sansho Furikake
Uni, Pea and Fermented Carrot Tart
“Oreo” Foie Gras Torchon, Black Garlic, Rhubarb
Artichoke, Sake Lees, Lettuce Puree
Chawanmushi, Blue Crab Fava Bean Fondue, Yuzu Foam
Dining Room
Cyrus Restaurant's dining room experience is where the heart of the culinary journey unfolds. Here, the main course isn't just a single dish, it's a carefully orchestrated symphony of flavors designed to tantalize your taste buds. The true magic lies in the artistry. Cyrus' chefs are storytellers on a plate. They utilize innovative techniques and unexpected combinations to create dishes that are not just delicious, but visually stunning as well.
Sobacha Epi, House Cultured Butter
Soba Wrapped Black Cod, Ginger Shiso Dashi
Poussin, Miso Morels, Creamed Ramps and Fava Greens
Sonomo Coast Lamb, Creamed Corn, Squash, Green Tomato
Their non-alcoholic pairing menu offers a creative and delicious selection of drinks that complement the flavors of their dishes, making every bite and sip a memorable one. Cyrus' beverage team crafts these pairings with the same meticulousness as their renowned wine list. They consider the ingredients, textures, and flavor profiles of each dish, ensuring a harmonious symphony for your taste buds.
Sakura "Rose Champagne" - coconut, white sesame, cherry blossom, lime
Pineapple Sunrise - golden raisin, chamomile, honey, balsamic float
Mignardises
Of course, no visit to Cyrus would be complete without indulging in dessert. 🙂
Sweet: Strawberry Sake Lees Mousse, Almond Sable
Sour: Sudachi and Olive Oil Tartlet, Shiso Meringue
Salty: Black Sesame Bon Bon, Toasted Rice Ganache
Bitter: Earl Grey Canele
Umami: Dark Chocolate Seaweed Coquette, Sweet Soy
Chocolate Room - A secret dessert closet?
Cyrus's meal concludes in grand fashion at the Chocolate Room. This hidden gem offers a dramatic finale. Imagine a cascading wall of chocolate – a feast for the eyes before you indulge in the house-made hot chocolate.
What truly sets Cyrus apart is not just the food, but the overall dining experience. From the moment you walk through the door, you're greeted with warmth and hospitality that makes you feel like a cherished guest. The staff at Cyrus are attentive and knowledgeable, always on hand to offer recommendations or answer any questions you may have. It's this personal touch that elevates the dining experience from merely enjoyable to truly unforgettable.
In conclusion, returning to Cyrus Restaurant in Geyserville is like embarking on a culinary adventure—one that never fails to delight and surprise. With its innovative cuisine, impeccable service, and inviting ambiance, Cyrus continues to set the standard for fine dining in Sonoma County. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a returning patron like myself, Cyrus never fails to impress, leaving you eagerly anticipating your next visit.
We have been anxious to try the long awaited reopening of Cyrus in Geyserville, CA. The restaurant is surrounding by Aperture Winery vineyards. After checking in, you are greeted by a warm and friendly host and free to choose your seats in the Bubble Lounge (more choices if you arrive early). We were lucky enough to pick the high top seats facing the vineyard to enjoy the marvelous views.
Kitchen Table
Next we were guided into the beautiful kitchen where you are seated in a U shaped kitchen table with 12 seats. Chef Keane created a kitchen table dining experience that feels fun for everyone and exudes a casual atmosphere. Guests are free to walk around and chat with staff during the time at the kitchen table. We had fun seeing all the professional equipment and the chefs were excited to show us their cooking techniques.
Kitchen Table at Cyrus
Dining Room
After the kitchen table we were guided to a spacious dining room with beautiful views of a water feature against the backdrop of the vineyard grounds. The progression of different seating areas really add to the overall dining experience and sets it apart from other fine dining restaurants. Each dish showcases a delicious combination of flavors and presentations. I absolutely adore the glassware and plates they chose. We ate with our eyes first with every course presentation.
Non-Alcoholic Pairing Menus
Cyrus offered one of the creative and delicious non-alcoholic pairing menus we'd experienced any in the world. (The only one comparable is Aviary in Chicago.) Most restaurants opt to offer pre-bottled/pre-made juices but the beverage director (also named Cyrus!) created inventive drinks with fresh ingredients that just so happened to not have alcohol --he didn't just phone it in. Each beverage matched the course it was design for and added to the dish. I was really impressed with the level of thoughtfulness and detail that this pairing menu provided.
Chocolate Room
After dessert you are led into the Chocolate Room. The hidden entrance to the room was a fun surprise and we were immediately met with a huge chocolate fountain upon entering. What a beautiful and one-of-a-kind concept! The levitating platform that held our chocolate treats was also visually stunning. Cyrus is definitely worthy of a special journey.
When you first walked into Nisei you can feel the ambiance was elegant & sleek with modern Japanese touches. We ordered the tasting menu which features 13 courses plus an add-on caviar & banana dorayaki and a final round of wagashi. Service was warm and well-intentioned and the food was well thought out and prepared. Very enjoyable meal.
Appetizer
The "appetizer" rounds we got were in courses 1-4, which were nori cotton candy, tako sunomono, Shingiku/ pea shoots in shiro dashi, and dry aged shima aji.
Entree
The "entree" rounds followed in courses 5-10, which were a lobster in paitan broth, cold chawanmushi, kobujime hirame/strawberry three ways/micro shiso, abalone tempura, squash blossom, and grilled unagi.
As each dish arrived at our table, we were explained clearly and in detail what each was and contained.
Diners have a glimpse of the kitchen.
Dessert
Macha. shiitake. honey
White chocolate. dashi. caviar
Amazake. blueberry. bee pollen
Sweet corn "takoyaki". C&S corn. black truffle
Assorted wagashi
Big Sur is probably one of the most famous and celebrated California destinations in terms of natural beauty, but for various reasons it’s never been high on my to-go list. Partly because the pandemic has limited my travel options, and partly because I finally put in the time to research the area, I was finally curious enough and took a 3-night trip there in early May, 2021. Well, now I’m a believer!
6 Big Sur Attractions You Must Not Miss!
Big Sur consists of a roughly 30-mile stretch along the California coast on the famed Highway 1 between Carmel and San Simeon. Here are some of the places we visited on this trip from north to south.
1. Garrapata State Park Bluff Trail
This is a stretch of mostly flat trails on the bluff along the coast. On the trail there is a cute little bridge that crosses the Soberanes Creek, and you can enjoy awesome views of large waves crashing against the sea stacks and cliffs.
2. The Calla Lily Valley
Did you know calla lilies grow naturally in the wild in swampy areas? I’ve seen calla lily patches in the past on other hikes but never made the connection. Look for “Garrapata State Beach Parking” on Google Maps (and some cars parked on the dirt patch on either side of Highway 1). After you park, look for the “Garrapata State Park” sign and you’ll see a narrow trail that goes down towards the beach. Head north to get to the little valley full of wild calla lilies! I think peak bloom season may be earlier in March or April, because many of the lilies we saw were already wilting/dried up. At the valley of the lilies there are some steps that go up to a trail that takes you back onto the highway, at a point a bit north of where you parked. Here you can get a full view of the valley of the lilies from the top and walk back along Highway 1 to your car (or you can go back down and back-track on the trail, and go further south where the trail leads to a stretch of beaches).
3. Bixby Creek Bridge
This is probably one of the most iconic sights associated with Big Sur. The bridge was built in the 1930s and is quite impressive. There are some areas both north and south of the bridge where you can pull over to get a view. This is a view north of the bridge at “Castle Rock Viewpoint”.
4. Buzzard’s Roost Trail (in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park – entrance fee required)
There are a lot of trails (and camping) in this huge state park, but this was the only hike we did here. This trail starts at Big Sur Lodge near a small creek, and is about 4 mile roundtrip (took us a little over 2 hours). You slowly zig-zag uphill towards Buzzard’s Roost view point, and there are many pretty wildflowers along the way. You can then make a loop from the top to get back down, though we ended up going up and coming down the same way. It was still quite foggy when we made it to the peak on our morning hike, so we did not get the famed view of the coast from the top.
5. Pfeiffer Beach (entrance fee required)
The Keyhole Arch at this beach may be the second most famous sight associated with Big Sur – it’s a popular sunset photography spot, as the sunlight streams directly though the keyhole at sunset, especially during the winter months around the winter solstice. My picture of the Keyhole Arch here is from 2016 (when we made a detour on a drive from SF to LA). On this most recent May 2021 trip, it was so windy on the beach the wind-whipped sand bit into our exposed skin like a million little needles. We quickly snapped a few pictures and ran back to the car, and didn’t even get a proper view of the Keyhole Arch (which really was just a few more steps north along the beach). There are a few other arches and cool rock formations here, but the Keyhole Arch gets all the glory because of the sunset phenomenon. Pfeiffer beach is also known as the Purple Beach, as the sand is purple from the manganese garnet deposits that wash down onto the beach from the surrounding hills. To get to this beach, take Sycamore Canyon Road (which requires a sharp right turn if you’re coming southbound) off Highway 1. It’s a 2-mile, very narrow, not really paved, road with turnouts that leads to two parking areas for the beach. Both parking areas are a very short walk to the beach.
6. McWay Falls (Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park – entrance fee required)
A short ¼ -mile walk from the parking lot leads to a deck overlooking the beautiful McWay Cove and the McWay Falls. It is a small waterfall and we didn’t see it at first. There are a few other (longer) trails in this park, but they were all closed during our visit, though may be due to recent fires/rains rather than the pandemic? We also noticed a lot of people parked off Highway 1 just before the park entrance, so you can get a view of the cove and waterfall on the highway without actually entering the park.
Where to Eat?
There aren’t a lot of dining options at Big Sur, but enough that if you wanted to eat at a different place for lunch and dinner each day over a 3-4 day trip, it is still possible. Here are two of my favorites on this trip.
Coast Big Sur (49901 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920)
Art gallery and café, you can get a nice lunch here and enjoy a beautiful view of the Pacific Coast with your meal. Don’t forget to try one of the soft-serve options for dessert!
Big Sur Bakery (47540 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920)
This a good breakfast/lunch spot nestled amongst pretty fruit trees and gardens, flanked by a couple small art galleries. They have also recently started (restarted?) serving dinner starting at 5pm. This fried chicken was very juicy and flavorful, and the purple sauce was a horseradish crème fraiche, and it was really, really good!
Where to Stay?
Big Sur Lodge (Family friendly)
This is where we stayed on this trip. Situated right in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, staying here also gives you complimentary day passes to all 3 state parks in Big Sur (Pfeiffer Big Sur, Andrew Molera, and Julia Pfeiffer Burns). All the units are cottages of different sizes. We chose the Kitchenette Cottage that had a bedroom with a queen bed, a living room with a pull-out couch, and a kitchen that included a refrigerator, stove, microwave, a small coffee maker, a toaster, and basic kitchen supplies (pot, pan, dishes, utensils — bring your own cooking oil, salt/pepper). There is a café at the main lodge, but the main restaurant was still closed due to the pandemic. The accommodations here are basic but clean and comfortable; there is no Wi-Fi, and cellphone reception was spotty at best, but the location was great and allowed easy exploration of the area.
Glen Oaks Big Sur (Adults preferred)
I would’ve liked to stay here during this trip, but by the time I found this place there weren’t good options for the dates I wanted, since most units are double-occupancies only. The lodging options range from hotel rooms of various sizes to cabins and cottages with kitchenettes. All the rooms and cabins/cottages have views of or decks that look into the woods, the décor seems rustic but modern, and overall these accommodations are probably luxurious compared to Big Sur Lodge. And all rooms have Wi-Fi! Haha.
[avatar user=”Joyce” /]
Other Practical Tips
Download offline Google map of the area. As alluded to above, cellphone reception is overall pretty minimal in Big Sur, and most of the restaurants we went to didn’t offer Wi-Fi either. Download an offline map before your trip and you’ll still be able to search for various sights and navigate between sites during your stay.
Fill up your gas tank before you get to Big Sur. There are gas stations in Big Sur but they are understandably pricey, as it can’t be easy to truck gasoline into Big Sur.
Carmel is only about 25 miles north of Big Sur (about a 40-min drive), so one of the nights we drove up there for dinner. It makes a nice side-trip if you have a longer Big Sur stay (or want different dining options), also a good option if you want to restock groceries for a longer stay. Just remember this stretch of Highway 1 does not have street lights! So definitely drive carefully if you’re getting back to Big Sur after dark.
After enjoying a fabulous meal in 2009, we returned with a party of five for a winter menu. Menus change with the seasons. I must say the service continues to excel. Food comprised of nine dishes plus desserts. Each course was a work of art, visually and in its preparation and taste.
Amuse Bouche
red pepper and black olive madeleines
Bread
house-baked bread
First Course
local milk panna cotta with abalone
Second Course
Third Course
locally grown greens, flowers and herbs and “soil”
2316 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 776-5577 www.lafolie.com
French
CHEF’S FIVE COURSE MENU
We ordered the 5 course piggy menu and were STUFFED. You don’t want to ruin your expensive meal by overeating! Presentation is beautiful. The dessert course was probably the least outstanding.
Bread
french baguette
Amuse Bouche
egg yolk with leek cream soup
Osetra Caviar
Brentwood Farms Sweet Corn Soup
lobster, truffle, crispy sweetbreads
Seared Day Boat Scallop & Crispy Sweetbreads
on nantais carrot puree, truffle vinaigrette
Quail and Squab
stuffed with mushrooms, wrapped in crispy potato strings, truffled jus
Seasonal Sorbets
mixed berries sorbet and yuzu granite, passion fruit sorbet cannoli
Petit Fours
chocolate plantain, canele de bourdeaux, madeleines with brandied cherries, apricot pate de fruit
652 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 345-8100 frenchsoulfood.com
Cajun
Sunday Brunch
A taste of Lousiana! We were excited to try it out based on the reviews and always seeing the line formed outside, which is usually a good sign. They have good beignets, big and fluffy. The cheddar grits was a bit too cheesy and heavy for me. Overall atmosphere is very open and bright. Portions are really big so make sure to share!
Beignet Flight
plain, chocolate, granny smith apple, crayfish
Granny Smith Apple
sweetened with cinnamon honey butter
Crayfish
spiced with cayenne, scallions & cheddar
Chocolate
molten Ghirardelli chocolate
Eggs Benedict
two poached eggs on cream biscuits with creole hollandaise and grits
1104 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 395-0881 www.melisse.com
French
FOUR COURSE TASTING MENU – 2012
The environment there is very laid back and the servers are quite friendly. The food, as they deliver what they describe exactly. We had an amazing meal and an amazing experience overall. This is a real culinary treat.
Amuse Bouche
Bread & Butter
Santa Barbara Spot Prawn
Celtuce, razor clam, uni and geoduck
White Asparagus
A single spear of white asparagus with morel mushrooms and some sort of magical buttery sauce that made me want to lick the plate.
1517 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 673-1101
Seafood
What to expect
Having lived in San Franciso for several years, I’ve never thought about this place. It was on one of Anthony Bourdain’s shows and since a friend was visiting from LA, we decided to check this place out. It’s a small place (a bar with about 20 stools) so expect to wait in line (hour+).
Clam Chowder
The clam chowder wasn’t what I’m used to. It had the clam flavor but it was a bit watery.
Shrimp Cocktail
lots baby shrimp and cocktail sauce
Oysters
mixed dozen oysters
Combination Sashimi Sicilian Style
salmon, tuna, capers, olive oil, red onion, black pepper
